Watsonville, California Rental Market Trends

Disclaimer:

Any shifts in rent prices brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic are not yet reflected in the statistics on this page. Please bear this in mind when referencing the data below, as it may not accurately describe the current context of the Watsonville, California rental market.

Watsonville, California

Average Apartment Rent

$2,309

Y-o-Y Change in Average
Apartment Rent

1.1%

As of November 2024

Compared to a year ago, Watsonville, California apartments have recorded a 1.1% rent increase.

Watsonville, California Average apartment rent trend

Median Rent Nov 2021 Mar 2022 Jul 2022 Nov 2022 Mar 2023 Jul 2023 Nov 2023 Mar 2024 Jul 2024 Nov 2024
Watsonville $1,904 $2,257 $2,058 $2,315 $2,215 $2,301 $2,284 $2,409 $2,332 $2,309
National $1,596 $1,635 $1,708 $1,726 $1,714 $1,739 $1,733 $1,727 $1,752 $1,748
Watsonville
National
Nov 2021
$1,904
$1,596
Mar 2022
$2,257
$1,635
Jul 2022
$2,058
$1,708
Nov 2022
$2,315
$1,726
Mar 2023
$2,215
$1,714
Jul 2023
$2,301
$1,739
Nov 2023
$2,284
$1,733
Mar 2024
$2,409
$1,727
Jul 2024
$2,332
$1,752
Nov 2024
$2,309
$1,748

Watsonville, California Average Apartment Rent

Watsonville, California Apartment rent ranges

Under $500
$501 - $700
$701 - $1000
$1,000 - $1,500
$1,500 - $2,000
Over $2,000

At 70.77%, apartments priced Over $2,000 represent the bulk of Watsonville, California rentals, while condos priced $1,000 - $1,500 hold the lowest share of the market – 13.36%.

Watsonville, California Housing tenure**

Renter occupied housing units 8,511
Owner occupied housing units 6,710

Renters take up 56% of Watsonville, California real estate, occupying a total of 8,511 units, while homeowners live in 6,710 properties.

Median number of rooms of renter-occupied housing units**

4.2

Renter median household income**

$60,424

Average household size of renter-occupied housing units**

3.66

Rental vacancy rate**

2.4%

Watsonville, California Renter-occupied housing units by no. of bedrooms**

No bedrooms 621
1 bed 1,592
2 beds 3,214
3 beds 2,600
4 beds 425
5 or more beds 59

There are 3,214 rentals in Watsonville, California with 2 beds making up the highest share of the market, at 38%. Units with 5 or more beds, on the other hand, hold the lowest percentage (1%), amounting to 59 units. Overall, the median number of rooms in Watsonville, California homes for rent is 4.2.

Watsonville, California Renter-occupied units by age of householder**

15 - 24 years 303
25 - 34 years 1,588
35 - 44 years 1,896
45 - 54 years 2,019
55 - 59 years 851
60 - 64 years 528
65 - 74 years 848
75 - 84 years 348
85 years and over 130

Most condos for rent in Watsonville, California are occupied by residents in the 45 - 54 years age group (24%), followed by those in the 35 - 44 years age group (22%). At the same time, people in the 85 years and over age group make up the lowest share of the local rental market – 2%.

Watsonville, California Renter-occupied housing units by family type**

Family households 6,454
Non-Family Households 2,057

Watsonville, California Renter-occupied housing units by the presence of own children**

With related children of the householder under 18 4,295
No related children of the householder under 18 4,216

A total of 6,454 apartments for rent in Watsonville, California, or 76% of all rentals are family households. Additionally, 50% of rental homes include children under the age of 18 – that’s 4,295 units. All in all, the median size of a renter-occupied household in Watsonville, California is 3.66.

Watsonville, California Renter-occupied housing units by educational attainment**

Less than high school graduate 3,615
High school graduate (including equivalency) 2,067
Some college or associate's degree 2,282
Bachelor's degree or higher 547

In terms of education, renters holding bachelor degrees or higher make up 6% of the rental market. In contrast, residents with less than a high school degree reside in 42% of the homes for rent in Watsonville, California.

Watsonville, California Renter-occupied units by year structure built**

Built 2010 - 2019 181
Built 2000 - 2009 815
Built 1990 - 1999 877
Built 1980 - 1989 1,657
Built 1970 - 1979 1,905
Built 1960 - 1969 751
Built 1950 - 1959 732
Built 1940 - 1949 402
Built 1939 or earlier 1,191

The highest share of Watsonville, California apartment rentals, namely 22% or 1,905 units, were Built 1970 - 1979, followed by those Built 1980 - 1989 (19%, 1,657 units), and the ones Built 1939 or earlier (14%, 1,191 units).

Watsonville, California Renter-occupied units by year householder moved in**

Moved in 2021 or later 392
Moved in 2018 to 2020 1,586
Moved in 2010 to 2017 3,974
Moved in 2000 to 2009 1,971
Moved in 1990 to 1999 453
Moved in 1989 or earlier 135

Median year renter moved into unit 2013

Most Watsonville, California renters (47%) moved in 2010 to 2017, while only 2% of them moved in 1989 or earlier. Overall, the median year renters have occupied their Watsonville, California condos for rent is 2013.

Watsonville, California Renter-occupied housing units by vehicles available**

No vehicle available 812
1 vehicle available 2,107
2 vehicles available 3,200
3 vehicles available 1,779
4 vehicles available 413
5 or more vehicles available 200

When it comes to transportation options, 38% of Watsonville, California renters have 2 vehicles available per household, 25% of them have 1 vehicle available, and 21% have 3 vehicles available.

Watsonville, California Means of transportation to work of householders living in renter-occupied housing units**

Car, truck, or van - drove alone 8,514
Car, truck, or van - carpooled 2,277
Public transportation (excluding taxicab) 122
Walked 340
Taxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, or other means 864
Worked at home 458

Watsonville, California Geographical mobility in the past year for householders living in renter-occupied housing units**

Same house as 1 year ago 27,820
Moved within same county 2,318
Moved from different county within same state 510

The rental statistics on this page were compiled using data provided by our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution which offers comprehensive information on all Watsonville, California apartment buildings 50 units or larger. Yardi Matrix covers ~80% of the U.S. metro area population, including over 80,000 properties and 15.2 million apartments across 124 U.S. markets.

*Average single-family rent calculated from point2homes.com data.

**Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

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